I’m amused that @realDonaldTrump thinks he can just shut off funding to specific cities. A lot of federal funding simply doesn’t work that.

Let’s take Medicaid, which is a block grant doled out by HHS. Medicaid can only have 1 recipient/state. 1/

So, the state receives the money, matches it with some state funds, & then gives it out based on program needs. (Some is direct care, some is county health programs, the list is LONG for Medicaid).

Saying “Portland doesn’t get Medicaid money” simply doesn’t work. 2/

You could cut off all of Multnomah county, but that would include non-Portland areas.

Same thing with food stamps. Federal funds flow to the state & then are managed by the state & given to those in need. Shutting off specific cities would be very difficult. 3/

Also, Congress manages the federal budget, not the president. Clawing back current grants wouldn’t work.

The administration could *maybe* make it more difficult to receive future federal grants by changing evaluation criteria. 4/

How do I know this?

My first job out of grad school was as an internal auditor for Oregon’s Department of Human Services & I learned A LOT about Medicaid in specific & federal funds in general.

How public financing works should be mandatory education. 5/